family Archives - Lauren Sparks

Are there pleasing aromas coming from your kitchen yet? Christmas is right around the proverbial corner, and I probably have more olfactory memories associated with Yuletide than any other time. During my formative years, my mom often made wassail. Traditional wassails are alcoholic, but I assure you my very Baptist mother’s was without fermentation. She used tea brewed with cinnamon and cloves, then added orange juice and lemon. I have to admit, it’s not my favorite drink. But even still, any combination of these smells takes me back to the church parties and family gatherings my parents hosted in the little house on Rita Street.

My sisters and I also made cream cheese cookies with Mama every Christmas. We used cookie cutters to shape them into candy canes and snowmen, elves and angels. When I bake a batch to golden brown and catch a whiff, I am reminded of traditions and family and cookies that were just a little extra special because of the cream cheese in the dough.

Maybe the smells you associate with Christmas differ from mine. The sharp, sweet scent of peppermint or the tangy oranges you peeled straight from your stocking. Hot cocoa or logs burning in the fireplace. The freshness of a real evergreen Christmas tree or candied fruit cake (hey, you do you). Or if you don’t live in the South like me, maybe the crisp smell of newly fallen snow signals the season.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”

Oh, that I will be up to the task! Just like oranges and cinnamon immediately make me think of Jesus’ birthday, I want everything about me to remind others of Him. May He be all over me so others see Christ instead of me. And may I spread His life-giving scent all around.

Lord, make me a pleasing aroma this season that others recognize as You.

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As I sit here listening to Shelby’s music therapy session and know that within a few hours I will have a houseful of guests, my mind is not much for writing. This may not be my best attempt, but I have failed to set aside time as I’ve cooked and cleaned and made preparations for Thanksgiving. So it’s now or never (for this week anyway).

We observed the time change to usher in this month and we see the leaves changing and falling as we escort it out. And ready or not, the holidays are here. I want to go on record as saying that the first thing I give thanks for is Allie’s release from concussion protocol. The process stressed us all and taught us a lot. And I am not sad to see it go. A sweet friend of our family invited us to her wedding shower and Shelby and I gladly accepted and went. Of all people I know, this young lady is worth celebrating.

Our kids’ school district hosted a viewing of the documentary film Angst and my husband and I thought it important to attend since our youngest struggles with anxiety. A counselor friend of mine insists that most teens today probably suffer as well. The NIH says 1 out of every 3. I recommend looking at this website and seeking out a screening if you know or suspect that a teen you love is affected.

My sweet Mama invited me to a fall luncheon at her church where we heard Rachel Anne Ridge speak. She owns a donkey named Flash and wrote a book by the same name as well as Walking with Henry (another donkey), Made to Belong, and Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends (a children’s book). I squeezed in another lunch with a couple of cherished high school friends and loved catching up. We went to a dinner fundraiser for Allie’s choir as well as one for Hope Squad – a suicide prevention group Allie helps with at school. Whew. All this eating and as I’m writing Thanksgiving is still a day away.

I feel privileged to have added to my yoga teaching schedule two groups of special needs adults. Pretty challenging to instruct, but so near and dear to my heart. I also got to take a dear one to a big doctor’s appointment and provide meals for two others dealing with health issues. God is so very kind to allow me these opportunities.

One of the biggest highlights of the month has been Baylor football. I fall more and more in love with it every fall and getting to go to the game against the University of Texas with my best friend of 25 years was a treat. So much fun to get to see this team, who have fought back from so much, earn their spot in the Big 12 Championship game. Getting to spend the better part of the weekend with my favorite family (other than my own) iced the cake. I even blew up an air mattress on the floor of Patsy’s family’s hotel room for a night. I’m so grateful they let me share in their vacation time.

We took Shelby to see Frozen II and we all loved it. Then the girls and I took in Playing with Fire with my sister and two nieces. It was a weird movie, but I’m still laughing about parts of it. There are so many good movies out right now that I’m not sure how we can possibly fit them in, but I would love to try. But now, I must close and finish preparations for my husband’s family. As always, I love you, I thank you and I hope December treats you well.